Ukraine began constructing hidden underground bunkers to protect the fighters. Kyiv has also employed decoys at other air bases to complicate Russia’s targeting efforts.
Earlier this week, Kyiv announced that a major serving in the Ukrainian Air Force was arrested for allegedly sharing the location of its F-16 Fighting Falcon and Mirage 2000 fighter jets. The officer, who reportedly was a flight instructor, had shared the coordinates of the jets with Russian officials.
Ukraine has kept the locations of its fighter aircraft a secret, acknowledging that the planes are high-value targets for Russia. While the Kremlin has claimed to have shot down large numbers of both the Fighting Falcon and the Mirage, Kyiv has only confirmed that three of its F-16s have been lost.
Both the F-16 and Mirage 2000 have proven vital in Ukraine’s efforts to counter Russian air strikes. Consequently, the Ukrainian military has gone to great lengths to protect the aircraft from Russian attacks. However, this is not simply a matter of relocating the F-16s and Mirage 2000s, as other measures are needed to ensure the aircraft’s safety.
To avoid detection, the F-16s and Mirage 2000s fly at very low altitudes, especially when operating close to the front lines. In addition, Ukraine began constructing hidden underground bunkers to protect the fighters. Kyiv has also employed decoys at other air bases to complicate Russia’s targeting efforts.
However, hiding the aircraft only solves part of the issue that Kyiv faces, as advanced aircraft require specialized equipment to keep the warbirds flying. To address the issue, the Ukrainian military charity foundation “Come Back Alive” and the Ministry of Defense have produced two different mobile modules, one equipped with maintenance equipment for the aircraft and the other for mission planning. The mobile platforms allow the F-16s to operate from different bases, and even civilian airstrips.
In addition to their mobility, the platforms are designed to enhance the efficiency of aircraft preparation for flight. According to the Kyiv Independent, three maintainers rather than the normal 10 to 12 can help ready the aircraft for flight and get it in the air.
“There is only a short time lag between finding the F-16s and then launching ballistic missiles,” Peter Layton, former Royal Australian Air Force officer and Associate Fellow at RUSI, told the Kyiv Independent.
“The key to F-16 survival when on the ground is not being found,” Layton added. “The F-16s are then widely dispersed, so if one is found and targeted, not all will be destroyed. It is a shell game.”
Multiple NATO members, including Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Norway, pledged to provide Ukraine with the Fighting Falcon after former President Joe Biden approved the transfer of the multirole combat fighter in early 2024.
Kyiv began to receive the F-16s last August, but lost one due to pilot error just weeks later. A second Fighting Falcon crashed in December, while Russia successfully shot one down in June.
It is unclear if the unnamed Ukrainian Air Force officer’s disclosure of information to Russia contributed to the loss of the F-16 or the first Mirage 2000 to be shot down in June. It is also unclear whether Kyiv has altered its methods for concealing its F-16s and support equipment in response to the leak.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
